Brett MartinezPersonally Speaking

What is your fondest memory of living in Sonoma County?

My family and I went boating out on Lake Sonoma on April 1st the year we moved here. The sky was incredibly blue and clear, the trees and hills were green, and even though it was a weekend, we were the only ones out on the lake. We saw an eagle fly overhead. It was surreal . . . such a different world from the southern California concrete and noise we were used to.

Describe what you experience as the greatest treasure of Sonoma County.

Sonoma County is full of diverse treasures. The coast, the vineyards, the lakes, the downtown areas. I remember one day when I first moved here, I just took a drive up Highway 12 toward Sonoma, and was completely awestruck by the scenery – the tree branches arching over the road, the vineyards, the mountains. It’s easy to get so busy you don’t realize what’s around you, but then you take a moment to look around, it’s really an incredible place to be.

What for you defines 'quality of life'?

Being surrounded by family and friends that you care for, and having the time to enjoy them.

What gets you really excited about your business?

People. Helping people is what we stand for as a cooperative. I believe in our mission 100% - passionately serving our Members, employees and local communities. I get to go home every day knowing that we helped our 147,000 Members to build wealth and make smart financial decisions, which will help them achieve their goals and dreams. That’s pretty exciting.

Thinking about your business, what keeps you up at night?

The realities of the current economy, and the frustration of understanding how we got here: people forgot the importance of doing business with people and companies they can trust. I think Go Local can really help to bring that message back to our community.

If you could have one wish come true for Sonoma County, what would it be?

Short-term, I’d love to see our local economy recover sooner than later. In the bigger picture, I wish that no one in our county would have to go without basic necessities: shelter, food, clothing, and education.

What is your favorite quote or motto?

Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.

What or who do you most admire in Sonoma County?

I admire the people who live here – overall, they are friendly, supportive, engaged and truly passionate about our community. The people are just one more reason Sonoma County is unique and amazing.

What brought you to Sonoma County?

The opportunity to work for Redwood Credit Union brought me here, but I’ve always had an attraction to the area, and visited many times before moving here. Whenever I have to travel, I always really appreciate coming home to Sonoma County.

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